Brody Schmidt, Associated PressOklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden says the Browns have shown a lot of interest in him leading up to next week's NFL Draft.

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden gets the vibe the Browns like him and relishes the thought of competing for the starting job with Colt McCoy.

"I know Colt had a good year last year, and he's a good football player," Weeden said during a phone interview this week. "But I'm a competitor, and I want to play as soon as possible. I'd be excited about the opportunity to come in and compete with him and see how things pan out."

Weeden, 28, might get the opportunity to do just that. He's one of the players the Browns are considering with their second first-round pick (No. 22 overall) or their second-round choice (No. 37) in next week's NFL Draft, and they've shown plenty of interest.

"Yeah, they have," said Weeden. "You never how it's going to go, but I feel really good about how everything's gone with the Browns throughout this whole process. It would be exciting if I ended up there."

The Browns sent a contingent of eight to watch Weeden (6-3 1/2, 220) and his top receiver, Justin Blackmon, work out at their pro day last month.

They also brought both in for predraft visits.

"They've got a good thing going on there, and they're headed in the right direction," Weeden said. "I had a nice dinner with Mr. [Tom] Heckert [Browns general manager] and other staff members, and then I went to the facility the next morning and met Mr. [Mike] Holmgren [Browns president] and coach [Pat] Shurmur and everybody else. It was a great visit."

Weeden was especially impressed with Holmgren, who's coached great quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Steve Young and Brett Favre.

"His track record in this league is incredible," said Weeden, widely regarded as the fourth-best quarterback in this draft. "He's worked with a lot of great quarterbacks and won so many games as a head coach. But he was also a straight shooter and very honest. I can see why he's had so much success."

Heckert declined to evaluate Weeden during his predraft news conference Thursday. He acknowledged Weeden's age is a factor but not a deal-breaker. He also raised the question of whether or not he's a starter.

"I have my opinion on that, but I can't tell you that," Heckert said.

Brandon Weeden file

Position: Quarterback.

College: Oklahoma State.

Height, weight: 6-31/2, 220.

40 time: 4.87.

Age: 28.

Notable: Weeden played only one year of high school football. Was drafted in second round by the Yankees in 2002, spent five years pitching in the minor leagues but never made it past Class A ball. Started his final two seasons at Oklahoma State, going 23-3, with 71 TDs and 26 TDs in spread, no-huddle offense. Went 3-0 combined in 2011 season vs. Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill and Andrew Luck. Beat Stanford, 41-38, in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl. Completed 70.7 of his passes against ranked teams.

They're saying: ESPN's Jon Gruden: "I love Brandon Weeden. I think if you want a quarterback that's tough as hell, that's a winner, I would find something for him to do."

"Fortunately, I got a taste of the [West Coast] terminology at the Senior Bowl," he said. "That's the biggest adjustment. If I get an opportunity, I'll do everything in my power to come in and be the guy."

Weeden also has fantasized about playing in the NFL with his go-to guy, Blackmon, who's under consideration by the Browns at No. 4. The duo connected for 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons and led the Cowboys to a 23-3 mark.

"I understand Justin like the back of my hand," said Weeden. "We've got a pretty good little repertoire going between the two of us, so that'd be fun. He's one of the guys that can come in easily and change a franchise, he's that good. If the Browns take him at [No. 4], you never know."

Weeden, who was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft, spent five seasons pitching in the minor leagues before a torn labrum and tendinitis in his throwing shoulder derailed his career. He sat for most of his first two seasons at Oklahoma State and then lit it up his last two in a spread offense. Last season, he threw for 4,727 yards with 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

"He has unbelievable arm talent," said Todd Monken, his college offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, who coached receivers for the Jacksonville Jaguars for four years. "He's the most accurate guy I've ever been around, and I've been around some good ones at every level. When he gets his feet set, there's nobody like him. He's got great arm strength, and he got better with his anticipation."

Monken acknowledged he's not certain how Weeden's game will translate to the NFL, especially because he'll have to play under center and throw under duress. It's also uncertain how he'll play without Blackmon.

"I don't know that," said Monken. "Was Joe Montana the same without Jerry Rice? I think they're great players on their own, and they made each other a lot better together."

"I know he's older, and he may not turn out to be anything anybody wants in the NFL -- I'm done trying to predict that," said Monken. "All I know is, he never lost to any of those guys, and they're all probably going to go before him, so we'll see how it all turns out."

He said if Weeden were 22, he'd be right up there with the others.

"For what we did this year, and I know our offense is a little different, I wouldn't trade him for Tannehill or Luck or RG3," Monken said.

Former Browns offensive coordinator and current Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman, who worked with Weeden on the field and in the film room for three days before the Senior Bowl, compared him to Matthew Stafford, who went No. 1 overall to the Lions in 2009.

"He's kind of that size, he throws the ball and I don't think he'll have any trouble transitioning from being a [shotgun] quarterback to being under center," said Trestman. "He's got a great understanding of the game and great maturity. I'm excited to see how he lands in all of this."

He thinks Weeden could excel in the Browns' West Coast offense, which Trestman ran as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the 49ers in 1995 and '96.

"I think he can roll out and do some of the movement things that need to be done," he said. "He can be a rhythm passer and be efficient and productive."

Trestman pointed out that Young was 30 when he succeeded and that Weeden can play eight to 10 years if he starts right away.

"I do think he has the skills besides throwing the football that you need to come in and play," said Trestman. "He's mature, he's a leader and he's very intuitive."

And he spared his body five years of getting sacked by huge linemen while he was playing baseball.

"I know I'm 28, but I feel 20," Weeden said. "My body's extremely fresh. I know some teams aren't bothered by it, and I'll get a good opportunity."

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